| Expression pattern: |
UP |
| Associated gene: |
Ago2, SOX4, COL1A1 |
| Associated microRNA: |
miR-338-3p |
| Biological function: |
Promotes fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) and fibroblast proliferation; its silencing attenuates pulmonary fibrosis and ECM/collagen deposition. |
| Molecular mechanism: |
Acts as a competing endogenous RNA (miRNA sponge) for miR-338-3p in an Ago2-dependent manner, relieving repression of SOX4 and COL1A1 and thereby promoting FMT. |
| Biological pathway or process: |
proliferation (promotes); EMT (promotes); ceRNA regulation (promotes) |
| Detected method: |
Q
H
|
| Validation methods: |
divergent primers PCR; RNase R Treatment; Sanger Sequencing; RT-qPCR; FISH / smFISH; RIP (RNA Immunoprecipitation); Luciferase Reporter Assay; Transfection; EdU Staining; CCK8; Western Blot; IF (Immunofluorescence); In Vivo Animal Model; H&E Staining |
| Clinical significance: |
Upregulated in lung tissue samples of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. |
| Description: |
circHIPK3 is up-regulated in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, TGF-beta1-induced fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition, and IPF patient lungs. It promotes FMT and fibroblast proliferation by sponging miR-338-3p (Ago2-dependent), increasing SOX4 and COL1A1 expression; circHIPK3 knockdown alleviates fibrosis in vivo. |
| Confidence score: |
0.7663 |